More funding to protect threatened birds

A project aiming to halt the decline of threatened bird species in the Mount Alexander area has been boosted with funding of $300,000.

Community-based organisation Connecting Country is leading a multi-organisation initiative to protect, enhance and increase critical bird habitat in box-ironbark forests around Castlemaine, Maldon and as far south as Taradale.

The funding comes from the state government’s Regional Biodiversity On-Ground Action initiative.

Krista Patterson-Majoor, from Connecting Country, said there had been a decline of some of the most threatened bird species in the Victorian temperate woodland bird community in recent years.

“Works funded will include having private land owners undertake weed control and fencing to protect remnant vegetation across 60 hectares,” Ms Patterson-Majoor said.

“In exchange, the owners will set aside land for conservation for at least ten years, including stock grazing removal and pest control.”

She said the project aligned with the organisation’s woodland bird action plan, which aimed to stabilise and grow bird populations by protecting and expanding their core habitat.

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning biodiversity program manager Jill Fleming said the department’s involvement would broaden the scope of the project, and ensure work carried out on private land was complemented by similar activities on 80 hectares of public land.